The Latest & Greatest: 1994 (E30) 316i Daytona Violet Design Edition Touring

[Roadrunner]

I've been trying to learn a bit more about the M40B16 to give it a chance before casting judgement. Here's what I keep reading about the M40:
- it's proven to be the worst of the E30 engines
- many documented problems
- common upgrades: none
- if you're looking for more power, consider an engine swap...

Okay, so there's not a lot of love out there for the poor thing. It makes me wonder why they ended up putting it in the design edition tourings in the first place when there were so many better options at the time?

E30 Zone has the best description of one of the common problems to look out for with the M40:

If the engine sound can be described as "sounding like a skeleton wanking in a dustbin" then your cam is very likely worn.

That interior is fantastic!! I have to stop following this thread or I will be searching for a similar touring! Sooo cool.

Aw, thanks! If you're in the market for an E30 anyway, what would stop you from going after one? :p

[MR E30 325is]

That interior is fantastic!! I have to stop following this thread or I will be searching for a similar touring! Sooo cool.

[Roadrunner]

read stuff on the internet, people suck irl

r3v's got a couple in depth threads covering 24 valve swaps..

Good advice, thanks! :) I should have lots of time to read over the winter, it's just hard to know where to even begin. I'll definitely check out those threads on r3v.

your car has convinced me to do a color swap to my rolling shell project that Im planning. Beautiful car!!

Nice! :up: I'd love to see how it turns out.

FYI, not a 'dog' net, its a cargo net. use it if you fill the back with stuff higher than the seats (or put objects which can turn into projectiles) then the stuff doesn't find its way to the back of your head in a panic stop or accident.

I've always seen that part referred to as a "dog net" or "dog guard," but that makes a lot of sense. Good to know!

I think you need to consider "one upping" your car hoarding partner and put a V8 in it. M60 would fit nicely in the car and help when you're hauling all those rare parts

Mine is one of many Alpine E30s, though mine currently has a LTW flag across the front

Wow, you guys must have a lot of faith in me with all of these ambitious engine suggestions, haha. ;)

That's the car I was thinking of, just wanted to make sure I was remembering the right one. I think it looks awesome!

[2mAn]

I think you need to consider "one upping" your car hoarding partner and put a V8 in it. M60 would fit nicely in the car and help when you're hauling all those rare parts

Mine is one of many Alpine E30s, though mine currently has a LTW flag across the front

[Shock(/\)ave]

FYI, not a 'dog' net, its a cargo net. use it if you fill the back with stuff higher than the seats (or put objects which can turn into projectiles) then the stuff doesn't find its way to the back of your head in a panic stop or accident.

Ah, that explains why it was so hard to lift that net. The spring on it is really strong.

If the weather warms up enough I'll take more pictures with some better equipment that will capture the colour of the fabric better. I think these pictures turned out pretty well for an older mobile, though, and it definitely gives you a great idea what it's like inside the car.

[straight6pwr]

FYI, not a 'dog' net, its a cargo net. use it if you fill the back with stuff higher than the seats (or put objects which can turn into projectiles) then the stuff doesn't find its way to the back of your head in a panic stop or accident.

[Roadrunner]

More pics of the car! :D I'll get more exterior shots when I've had a chance to actually clean it up, but here's how it looks after weathering its first Canadian snowstorm:







Now that the snow has died down, I can start making a list of items to attend to. The worn shift knob is one of the only giveaways that this car has been driven. That'll be one of the first things to replace.



The 4-way hazard button needs to be fixed, and a couple of the buttons are worn. Really need to get some rubber mats in there to protect the carpets, too. It's impossible to keep them clean otherwise with our gravel driveway.





I love the cargo cover:



I think it's safe to say I won't be transporting any dogs in this car, but just in case:





The rear seats, including the biggest "flaw" in the fabric we could find. :shock:









Yeah, I think I can live with that. ;)

Hopefully this will give you a sense for the texture of the fabric is like up close on the door cards and seats:





On to the front seats. It's hard to tell these have been sat in at all!







My first "mod" to this car. :p



The headliner is in excellent shape. The sunroof works well, the tracks just need a bit of grease. :)



I think it also needs me behind the wheel driving it. ;D Argghhh, I can't wait to get some nice weather!

[Shftr8]

your car has convinced me to do a color swap to my rolling shell project that Im planning. Beautiful car!!

[Shock(/\)ave]

Thanks! :) I'd better start saving up if I want an engine like that someday.

Given that the car isn't really going to be a daily driver, just spend some time with it in the spring and see how you feel about it.

I still think an M42B18 swap would be a great upgrade for the car that would still keep it close enough to how it was delivered to keep it 'original'. They make a lot more power than the M40B16 in the car, are cheap to buy used, easy to swap, and we actually have a chance of finding one locally with low mileage in great condition.

Do you guys have any suggestions for how to go about planning / learning to do an engine swap someday, assuming I decide to go that route?

I'm looking forward to learning that together, even if we don't decide to go that route with your car.

Yeah, we definitely have quite a few nice BMWs between the two of us. I bring down the average right now by only having two cars (I know, I know. "Two?! I guess that's how you was raised!"), though one of them is technically sold and just waiting to be shipped to its new owner. Shockwave is the one with the real problem. :p

I don't have a problem with it if you don't. :p

[kronus]

Do you guys have any suggestions for how to go about planning / learning to do an engine swap someday, assuming I decide to go that route? With a couple of notable exceptions, when I talk to car guys in real life (I have yet to find any other women interested in cars) to try to learn more, here are the types of reactions I normally get:

a) They laugh in my face or look at me with an amused expression like I'm a talking cat or something.
b) They think I'm only pretending to be interested, don't believe that I actually own my own car, etc.
c) They will only respond directly to my partner if he's with me instead of responding to me (out of "respect" to him?)
d) They're only interested in newer cars and don't know why I would want to go through all of this effort for an "old" car.
...and so on.

read stuff on the internet, people suck irl

r3v's got a couple in depth threads covering 24 valve swaps..

[Roadrunner]

Heh, thanks You Mate :)
I found a half of red design edition interior :D
Some pics in my topic.

After new photos i must say it only one thing... Awesome overall condition of this touring! :)
Where You want use a green light bulbs? U want make a red indictaros in rear?

The red design edition interior is going to look sooo good in your touring, I can't wait to see it! :mrgreen: Good luck finding the rest of the set!

The green light bulbs are still a mystery to me. Christmas lights?

beautiful color. this car deserves an S50.

Thanks! :) I'd better start saving up if I want an engine like that someday.

Do you guys have any suggestions for how to go about planning / learning to do an engine swap someday, assuming I decide to go that route? With a couple of notable exceptions, when I talk to car guys in real life (I have yet to find any other women interested in cars) to try to learn more, here are the types of reactions I normally get:

a) They laugh in my face or look at me with an amused expression like I'm a talking cat or something.
b) They think I'm only pretending to be interested, don't believe that I actually own my own car, etc.
c) They will only respond directly to my partner if he's with me instead of responding to me (out of "respect" to him?)
d) They're only interested in newer cars and don't know why I would want to go through all of this effort for an "old" car.
...and so on.

The typical female reaction to my car, in case you were wondering:

a) "You should just get a new car! Why would you want a car you have to keep fixing?!"
b) (...zones out...) "You should totally straighten your hair! Why don't you ever wear nail polish?!"
etc.

I really want to open that bag to count how many "Fuchs" were given by the previous owner. ;D

LOL, when I saw your other post this exact joke popped in my head..beat me to it.

Dying

Hahaha, I was killing myself laughing when I read that!

In for car humping pics! ;D

Car looks wonderful, Daytona Violet is one of my favorite BMW colors, its seems like the cars you both have cover the whole spectrum of wonderful, non-typical BMW colors we see regularly. I dream about making my Alpine car some sexy color

I was hoping to be able to give the car a bath first before snuggling up to it. ;)

Yeah, we definitely have quite a few nice BMWs between the two of us. I bring down the average right now by only having two cars (I know, I know. "Two?! I guess that's how you was raised!"), though one of them is technically sold and just waiting to be shipped to its new owner. Shockwave is the one with the real problem. :p

Nothing wrong with Alpine, by the way! Isn't your car the one with the cool flag decal?

Will post more pictures later today! :)

[2mAn]

I want to send him a picture of me giving the touring a big hug and a thank you message telling him how much I love the car, but I have no idea how that would come across. I guess we'll see! ;)

In for car humping pics! ;D

Car looks wonderful, Daytona Violet is one of my favorite BMW colors, its seems like the cars you both have cover the whole spectrum of wonderful, non-typical BMW colors we see regularly. I dream about making my Alpine car some sexy color

[IronJoe]

I really want to open that bag to count how many "Fuchs" were given by the previous owner. ;D

Dying

[straight6pwr]

I really want to open that bag to count how many "Fuchs" were given by the previous owner. ;D

LOL, when I saw your other post this exact joke popped in my head..beat me to it.

[jeenyus]

beautiful color. this car deserves an S50.